Bending fixture



Aug. 2o, 1935. R w 'BROOMHAM 2,011,967

BENDING FIXTURE v Filed July 24, 1935 I 2 sheets-'sheet 1 v5, q, I8 alINVENTOR mzwwmmgm ATTO RNEYS ug. 20, 1935. R w. BRooMHAM 2,011,967

- Y BENDING FIXTURE Filed July 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR jMJ/AMMMM ATTORNEY.;`

Y PatentedA Aug. V270, 1935 BENDING FIXTURE n Richard W. Broolnham,Detroit,. Mich., assigner to Motor Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,

a corporation of NewYorkY v Application July j24., 193s,v serial No.,V682,007 14 claims. (o1. 15s-e46) f This invention relates generally tobending iixtures `and refers more particularly to devices of curvaturetherein. Y

rthiscl'iaracter for bending strip metal to form a fOne of theprincipalobjects of this invention isto improve generally bending fixtures of theY type set forth by simplifying the construction v various degrees ofcurvature by'merely `inter l zo aswell as the operation thereof and byreducing the number of parts of theisame to a minimum.

' Another-advantageous feature of thislinven' l tion resides in theprovisionvof a bendingfixture capable of morev accurately bending stripstock to a predetermined contour in av relatively shorter time and lwiththe minimum amount of manual eifortwor attention.

Afurther objectoi thi's'invention resides inv lthe provision of abending nxture capable of beingv expediently adapted to bend stripstockto changing the relatively fixed bending die for one corresponding tothe vdesired contour. y

Aj still further object of the` present invention which contributes'materially in "obtainingfthe results set forth in theprecedingparagraphsre. v sides in the provision of a bending fixture havingan actuatingmember movable throughouta predetermined path of travel relativeto thebending die and @having means cooperating with the aforesaid die to bendthe stock'to the contour'of the latterincluding 'a shoe connected to theactuating member for advancementtherewith by means permitting"simultaneous displacement of the shoe in a direction transverse to thedie. as Well as in a direction transverseto thelatter direction. Itnecessarily vfollows from this ar' rangement that the shoe will begudedthrough-A gagement with the die,` and wherein' displacement of thesame relative vto the actuating member therefor has no effect on thepressure exerted by the yieldable means. 4This feature prevents the`exertion of undue pressure -upon the strip inthe die ,and provides foruniform operation ofA the xture at all times. f

In addition to the foregoingfthe present in vention contemplates aconnection between the y,bending fixture and operating means therefor nautomatically releasable upon completionf'of the bending operation soasto permit imparting an4 accurate predetermined. curvature tofthestock. The foregoingl aswell as otheriobjects will bel Inadefmoreapparent as this description proceeds,

f especially `whenxconsidered in connection; wit

theiaccompanying drawings;` wherein:V z :v

n. Figurezlisfa plan 'viewof abendingiixture constructed in accordancewith this invention;

Y Figure'V 2` is fa' sectional view taken on` the line (Figure -3 isatsectional vview talren onzthe line 3-3 ofFigure 1; f I

-Figure 4'; is a sectional vview taken on the line' l :Figure 5 is' aperspectiveview ofl thefbending fixture featuring the: clamp forfsecuring the strip of metal inassembled relation with the die.

r The bending fixture forming the subject matter of thisinventionlcomprises a'die. IIlfxedxupon a suitable platform I Ik andhavng'fa curved portion' rI.2fcorrespo1f1ding.to the curvature it isdesired. toA

bendthe y strip of stock` designated Figure 2 bythe .reference.character I3; "Asshownparf ticularly inligurey 2,.theiouterface'ioftthe dieV is formed with a recess I4 therein extending for vthefull length of the'die 'and having a cross sec,

tionalcontour identical to the corresponding con-l tourof the`stripvstock I3;r The construction is such tofpermit Athe strip `ofstock- I3 to beV telescoped,withinthe/groove` I4 from the .rela tivelystraight end portion of the die, and, in the presentinstance,"r thestrip is prevented from axial movement relativeto thedie by means ofextendingears I'I spaced from each other a sufficient distance toLreceive therebetween an operating lever` I8 pivotally.A connectedintermediate the ends tothe earsas at I9. The outer end .a clamp I5comprising'a bracket lfrlxedito theV l outerfedge of theplatform andhaving vertically of the operatinglever ispostioned for'convenientVmanipulation 'by the operator, while the inner end'of the-samepivotally connected toa jaw section 2i) by means of a pin 2|.. The jawsection 20 is formedwith aninwardly extending projection 22 fashioned toextend into the recess I4 of' the vdie amil. cooperate therewith tosecure .the strip` I3 thereto whenA the operating handle I8 is in thepositiony thereof shown in Figure 5. It will be apparent :from thisIatter'gm'e that when it isl desired to remove the nished strip from'the die, ythe khandle I 8 is merely rocked downwardly about its fulcrumI9 causing the jaw-,section V20'1to movevoutwardly or in a directionaway from the die I0 Ya. distance lsufficient toY release' the 'stocktherebetween `andfpermit another'strip to beinserted in-v the. die.Obvious.

ly, after the strip has been properly positioned in the groove of thedie, the handle I8 is merely raised causing the die section 2!! to moveto a position wherein the stripis clamped between the latter andadjacent'wall of the groove.

Cooperating with the die IU to bend the stock to the contour of theygroove in the latter isa shoe 24 slidably supportedupon the platformV ilas at4 25 and having a projectionl 2S extending into the groove |4'ofthe die for engaging theouter surface' of the stock i3. As shownparticularly in Figure'2, the projection 2 6 preferably corresponds incross sectional contour to the corresponding shape of the stock so as tohave an extended'area of contact therewith and thereby prevent anytendency for the same to wrinkle or otherwise lose its shape uponmovement ,of theshoe relative thereto throughout the length ofthe die.In this connection, it is to be noted that the shoe is procooperating.bearing surfaces 2"! onthe 'die and i shoe not only guide the shoethroughout its movement relative to the die, but, on the other hand,y

prevent `exertion of unduepressure on -the stock during the bendingoperation.

The 'mechanism for moving. the., shoe .relative to the die comprises an.arm 301 :mounted .forA

rocking `movement in a substantially horizontal plane and. having the iinner end ljournaledbe-"1V tweenga pair .of'spaced bearings 3lY uponvalpin 32 which in turn is iixed to theplatform Vl l The free end of.the arm is operatively connected toV the shoe 24, but is not directly"connected thereto, g since if such were the case, the shoewould becompelled to move around the `iixed offswingingmovement of the arm30,*andthis would be objectionablev in that ituwould restrictbending thest'ripsvftocurvatures having a'c'enterfcoin-vcident with theax'is* ofswinging movement of the arm. In ordervto ,provider for bending the.strips to any particular'degreeof curvatureirre-` spective ofthelocation of `the. 4axisl of swinging movement of the armrelative .tovthefcenters of. the curvature in the die and at the same time to permitemploying the same iixture :with dies of different degrees of curvature,I provide the, following structure@ 3 i InV detaiLthe operativeconnection between Athev shoe and arm comprises'a vmember 33 interposedbetween the arm and shoe 2B..as s'hownpa'rticularly in Figure 2.connected intermediate .theends thereof f to the underside of vthe-,armfor swinging movement relative thereto in ar horizontal -plane andisproivided at the extreme inner end Withfa roller '344 engageable with the'vertical innerface 35 of thev die which is uninterrupted throughout;the lengthv thereof'so as to accurately guide the. member 33 f along apath coincident withthe longitudinalcon- 'tour-'of the die;

the curvature 'tof the die may be "closerto ,the` axis of swingingmovementrthan other pointsi-'itv is necessary to Vvprovide'for slidingmovement o'f the member 33 relative to the arm 30 in the direc--yInasmuchas certain points on tion of length thereof Virl additionto-theiaforesaid relative pivotal movement between these parts; Both thesliding Tan-d pivotal movementsof the member SBrelatiVe-to the arm'30.are .obtained i by a .pin35 having the.lowenendithreaded in the;

- toy swing-about ,the iixed vaxis of the `pin 32.

detail'the connection betweenthe shoe 124 and, member 33"c0mprises apair of blocks 4I and 42 The Ymember 33` is pivotally member 33Yintermediate the ends thereof and having the upper end projectingthrough a slot 31 formed in the arm 3Q. The slot 3l is elongated in thedirection of length of the arm so as to provide for the desired sli-dingmovement of the member 33 relative thereto, and the width of the slot issuch as to prevent movement of the pin 3e in directions transverse tothe slot 3l. Disengagement of the pin 36 from the slot is preventedherein bymean's of a washer39 xed to the upper end of the pin as at 4Qand having a diameter greater than the width of the slot so as to bridgethe' same.

Y From the foregoing construction, it will be observedthat theconnection between the member 33 and'arm 35 issucn asr to not onlypermit advancing the member 33 upon rocking movement of .the ar`m30about the axis of the pin 32, but to also simultaneously provide forswinging the member33 relative to the arm about theaxis of the pivotalconnection-,38, and inaddition,r permits the lmember 33to shift radiallyWithrespect to the axis of rocking movementof the arm 3).

Movement of the member 33 relativeto the varm 30`is: controlled bythe'curva-ture. of the die, Vdue tothe engagement'of4 the roller 34 with onesidel of lthe diexandto the engagement of the shoeV 24- Y with the.opposite side v'of' the die.; `T he'shoe 24 is operatively connected tothe arm 33 for move-` menttherewith, or in otherwords is mounted fordisplacement relative to the arm 3Q in directionstoward andawayfromtheaxis of swinging moveable in two directions.A transverse to eachother,

Also, the two,direotionsfiust.referred to may be saidY to be `transverseto thefdirecti-on of vmovement V'ofjthe arm treinte the latter iscompelled In slidably supported;` by the member 33 in a T- shaped slot43 formed inthe latter member in the directionof lengthpf the same.

44 normally engaging the o uter face of the shoe 24'between verticallyspaced shoulders 45 formed on the latter.'l face of the shoe. VIn thisconnection', it is o benoted that the point of engagement .of theabutment with the shoe and the line of 'engagement fof the roller 344with the die are substantially in `alignmentwith the projection 26 onthesnoeso as to insureeflicient engagement o'ffv the latter with thestripof metal in the die.-

In the present instance, the abutment 45t is held f in assembledrelation with the shoulders 45 on Ineans'of` the P11151; -ff'lieconstruction issuch rI he block is provided with an inwardly extendingabutment beam 5 2. As shownpartcularlyinFiguren, t e

thatmovement'ofjtheoperating handle 50H1' if Wardly about its pivotal-connec'tionf'l'f member 33 effects anoutwardfmovemen o the block 4lrelative'to the block`42nd thereby r' o'luees` the tension on theyspring Ity relieve j' the' p iessi'n'e` exertedby e thefpro-jectien ofthe; s ho'e4 on the` i strip." f On 'theother hand,` dow'` vWardmovement oftheopeating "handle fom'thefpos'iand tens-ions'the springr`H6 so that the"'lattr**will v exert lthe `desired pressure on the shoethrough the' aeti'on-ffof'the IblovclLt-"llv `v aforesaidyieldablemeansandfassociatedshoe af f Wvv: that any' displacement-ofthe-member@ or therfofA ,extends it@ a. metten; wher@ 'if maribe- 33T;Cvolveniently grasped byan'operato'r.l rl` Th eam 52 is connectedintermediate thefeifids tofthe'arm pivotally conne'ctedf'for swingingmovement about horizontal aiis *to a' bracket 5 5 lQcarrie @yg-the; beam`52. The freeendfof the""linger egteridsfai Sufcieht-disten leibelowthe, ,beam 5.2.:'510 Sie er1-i gage the'front edge'oithejarm 30 as'clearly shownV inf yFigure 5,y "and is ric'irrrijP14115?k heid fromswinging;

mov'ementiaboututhleaforesaid airisby means off Y l a clamp 56 carriedbythe bracketf5.5fbelcw`v`fthe clamp 55 Vcomprisesv a pairoffjavvsSlfand'S 'lqi oatedupon opposite sides'fo'i" the "lower endofthe bracket and having the rear ends piyotallyfsupjf ported from'thejbracket by'means;of:`pi1f1sf59i The free ends" of thejavvs areprovidedl with en larged portions 5 0 forxning s lioulde'rsf` I' j for'enj-f gauging `the front sideof: the 'finger 511" adjacent oppositeedges tlfiereof"` Thefshoulders 6I 1 are normally'V jyieldably 1Vmaintainedvv .infj engagement` with the fingerv 54 byr neans'y of arelatiyely'li'ght spring 62`finterposedi between" the pivotedf endsi Yof vtl'iefjavvs beyond "the v.pivotsf5'9 l and arejposi-g tively heldinassembled relation withv the' "linger by means ofa latch'BBmCi/ableoverxtheiree 'ends' of the javvs. VThe-lafli 63 comprises alever havj--ingl a slot B4 therethrough of sufficient dimension to receive'the endsAof `the vjaws-y and is-pi`votally; connected intermediate the 'ends *toV:the xj avv 58 for Vsvvingingmovement out ffengageinent*withthev'jaw'5'i by means' oa pin 5 5". f The 'latchis normallyfheld finengagement with `both'fjayvsloy means -of` a', spring" having'one endanchored; to the side of the j'aW 58 and havingtheopposite end'connectedto thelever beyond the# pin 65 as shown in Figure/Yi. v The ireeV end'of thel latch lever iextend's vlaterallybeyond the javi/"f1 5] lso:as.` to engage a suitable trip 68 mounted uponfthei bed il 'ofthe'xturei' Assuming' that. the several nparts Vof Ythe Aivirture are intherelative positions thereof shown in Figurefwherinfthe nngefsllfis heid"againstpivotav movmeiitfrelative thefbeagmtby theljaws andu thjtthe-'lbams m'ovdinfthe direction 'or the ar "owl sonni-Figure -15 itwiuflbefnoted that ba'r duel tp lthefegagmentefJ the ringerthere-'jWith' v During the nal-movement lof fthe bending fixture -"re1ative 'tsimultaneois"fmovernentof l "the shoe relative toa said rirein b'ei",Vin,tvvo directionsA transverse to each otnerand 1to` -.th'e, directionoi travel thereof by A j n "ng Qfxture having rl in fcombination,- meansyfor supporting a stripofstock'tojbe bent,- means rior-bending`said-strip i to l 4a predetermined degree of curvature includingjafs'hoe engageable` with; said` st ripjr and? movable 4relativeAthereto in.V

the direction of length thereof;, yieldablemea'ns acting `upon the shoe.fonurging the jlatter in-a.

direction-f transversej toy the directiony off-' 'tno-'ve-v mentaforesaid. tllereotteward the,String21--fri1ein5-A berlhayingapredetermined pathaof tra-vel, and a connection between: the1mn1bei-qfand shoe. operablel toadvancethe-latter relative `to jtheYstripand tofpermit simultaneous'displacement'of the shoe. relativetojthemembergin adirection op-v posite to lthe direction.of-faction;offthefyieldable P means Without. increasing the pressureexerted byyithe lattenen-thef-shee.fv .s 3.` :A 1 bending 1 :f xture hang n Iinw combination; means for-1 supportingga;stringofstock to i beYbeni` means for bending said strip to a predetermined degree ofcurvature ineludlns: e ensbeeble; with said lstrip and. movable relativethereto in the direction .ci -lensth thentoix vieldeble means. not-` ingunen the shoefor ureinathe-.latter infn di.- rection transverse tothedireotion ofmovement.

aforesaid thereof toward .thestrim a member henk tien. between themember .and ,shoe operable' to edfvanee the letter-relative. to tbeetripnndto permit Simultaneous. displaoementof the shoe relative to the.memberlntbe direction of notion-oi Seid vieldeblemeens, 4.. A bendingiiirture having in eombinetien..

means for supporting esti-ip. eistoelr tobelbenta means for; bending`seid strip. vto nv predetermined deeree. oiourfvature ineludins. e Shoeenseeeeble with .said strln and movable reletivetheretofln thedireotionof length thereon. a member.- mounted for rocking movement about anneeaxis., and. a. connection between .Seid memberand Shoe one.

erable to advance the latter relative to the stripv and. to permitSimultaneousdisplaoement Vof the shoe relativefto the member indireotionsredlellyj with respectv to the ax-is of` rockingmovement rofsaid member and also inrdlrectionstransverse to said lradial directions.-V

, 5, A bending'fixture` having in Aoinnbination.` means. for Supporting`av strip. of stoekto be bent, means for bending saidtilpto apredetermined degree ofcurvature including a shoe engageable Vwith said.strip and mevablerelatve thereto-in the direction of leneth thereof, amember mount-Y without affecting Athe action offsaid lyieldable.

means.

Q6. A bending fixture havingin c.ombination,.a V die having curvednortionjeorrespondinsj to they degree` of curvature itis' desiredtQimDflt. t0. 'tif Strip oi stock;y a shoe movable along 'thelou'rvedportion oi the'die relative thereto and. cooperate ing therewith to benda strip vo1' metal tothe curvature of the saine;` yleldablc meansnormally acting Aupon theshoe for moving Vthe Vlatter in' al directiontoward the die, a, member mountedfor rocking movement aboutie. fixed.axis', and anon-f nection between said member and vshoe"opererable tomove the latter` from thevformex'l along a path determined by thecontour of the diegirrespetive of the locationof said axis relative tothe curved sectioriofthe diel Without aiectingthe L action of saidlyieldable means,

"1. A' bending xture having vin 'cinfnbination, a

die having a curvedportion'corresponding to the degreev of curvature itis desired to' impart to a stripv of stock,vr a shoe. movable alongv thecurved portion ofthe,de'relative'thereto and cooperating" therewithtorben'd a strip of metal to the curv' ature of the same! a memberhaving a fixed path of travel'inV a. plane substantially `parallel tethe plane of the die, and a drivingconnection between said member 'andshoe'per-mitting movement of the latter relative` to the former indirections transverse to the general direction of advance-Y ment of theshoeV bysaid member.

8. A bending ixture having in combinationfa die having a curved portioncorresponding'to the degree of curvature it is desired to impart -to astrip of stock, aslioev movableA along-thecurved 9, Af'bending fixturehaving in combination, a `die having a curved portion corresponding tothe degree-of vcurvature itis desired to impart to a strip .of stock, ashoe movable along the Vcurved portion of ,thel die relativevthereto andVcooperetinethereWit-h to bend` .a Strip. of metal. to the curvature ofthe same, amember mounted for rocking movement,l about a iixed taxis, asecond member oonneotedto the member aforesaid .for pivotal movementrelative thereto inv a plane .parallel to theV plane. of movementthereof end also f ofrfslidinvg)l movement radially of the axis ofroekina movementl oiA the, Same, means operaf tively connecting saidshoeto theseconi member t at one side oi 'thepivotel eonneotion of. theletter with thefirstrnexnber,andlmeans carried by the second member attneopposite side otthe aforosaid pivotalconnection for 'engagingrtheside of the-die oPPoSitelthe side thereof wim which the shoerv engagestooompelfmovement of the eeoond member vtlrrou ghout apath correspondingto the curvature-ofthedief Y il);A A bending ixture having incombination; a die having a curved portion corresponding to thedegree'of. ourvature it is. desired to impartito e strip ofi stools, ashoe movable alongV the curved portion of the :die relative thereto andcooperating therewith to bend a. strip of metal to thecurvature of t thesaine, a member mounted for rocking movement abQllta fixed axis, a sec-Vond. member oonneetedto the member aforesaid for pivotal movementrelative, thereto in e plane yparallel. to the` plane oflnovementthereof and also forsliding movementradially of the axis of rockingmovement of the same@ means operatively connecting vsaid'shoe tothesecond mem--` ber, and ineens oomneuing movement o f the second memberalong a path corresponding to the curvature loi the die irrespectiveA ofthe location of the axisoi rockingl movement of the .first memeberrelative to the curved portion of. the die.`

l11'. .A'bendlng iixture having in combination', aV

dihavinga curved portion corresponding to the degree of curvature itlis.desired to impart. to a o strip of stock, a shoe ,movable along thecurved 'portion of the die relativerthcreto andcooper.-V Yatingtherewith lizo-bend a strip of metal tothe Veuri/alture of' the ineensfor moving, the

shoe relative to .the die lil the direction of length of thelatterrinoliicling. a member ymounted for movement lthrough.out a.predetermined nath of f travel.. 'ar second amember operativelyoonnected,

to the Vmember aforesaid for actuating theosame,V andmeens iorgreleasinsthe connection between seid members 'et e predetermined point. in thepath of travel. offline lSJ named. milbei'.

ed for rocking movement about a fixed axis, a second member connected tothe member aforesaid for pivotal movement "relative theretoV in a planeparallel to the plane of movement thereof and also for sliding movementradially of the axis of rocking movement of the same, means operativelyconnectingv said shoe to the second member including yieldable meansnormally arranged under tension between the shoe and a part carried bysaid second member, and means for releasing the tensionof the yieldablemeans to release the pressure yexerted on the strip by the shoe.

13. A bending Xture having in combination, a die having a curved portioncorresponding tothe degree of curvature it is desired to impart to astrip of stock, a member movable along the curved portion of the dierelative thereto and Velement along a path correspondingto the curvatureof the die,y and means operatively connecting said member yto the secondnamed element in-V cluding a spring carried by the second named elementand acting upon the member tending to urge the latter in a directiontoward the die.

14. A bending xture having in combination,

a die having a curved surface at one side cor- Y responding tothepdegree of curvature it is desired to impart to a strip of stock andhaving a cam face at the opposite side corresponding the latterandproviding for displacement of the second element relative to thefirst element in directions transverse. to the path of travel of saidmember and a cam follower upon said second named element inengagementvwith the cam face of said die. RICHARD W. BROOMHAM.

